I hate Virginia Creeper. To me, it's a nuisance. It literally will overtake a flower bed, consume a tree, and cover anything in its path. There's a batch of it that keeps coming back in my back yard. I have pulled it, dug it up (or so I thought), sprayed it, and I am pretty I sure did some sort of ceremonial dance begging for it to go away last week. It just keeps coming back.

The persistance of things we do not want in our lives can be quite frustrating. Sure, I could give up and let it overtake my back lawn, but I know the nature of Virginia Creeper and keep fighting the good fight to keep it at bay.

Virginia Creeper reminds me of the acts I saw take place in my own country just a few short weeks ago. Sometimes, I get comfortable and think that hatred in our nation is at bay. Haven't we pulled hatred up by its roots, so no new growth can occur?

Yes, there are times I am lulled into this false sense of security. I actually start to believe that we Americans have learned from the past and will not repeat those same sins. I have hope that our nation is not a broken record playing the same anger-filled chorus over and over. Then, I am lulled out of that state of mind by images of white supremacists marching with both Confederate and Nazi flags.

The noxious weed of White Supremecy and hate is back in my metaphorical backyard. Do I give up? Not at all! I keep trying to pull it out by its roots and end new growth. Just like that darn Virginia Creeper, it will take over and consume anything in its path. Yet, myself and a whole lot of "someones" out there need to take a stand and say, "Not on our watch. Not in our America. Not in our backyard."

It's time to rip out hatred in America and not let it sprout up again and again. This isn't about political parties or who you voted for. This is about doing the right thing and standing against those who would strip their fellow man of their basic rights.